I knew that, and deep down in my own consciousness, honored her the more, even while I struggled against the inevitable.

Yesterday I might have spoken the words of passion on my lips, but now they were sealed, and I dare not even whisper them to myself, yet it was out of this very depth of impossibility that I came to know love in its entirety, and realize what Viola Henley already was to me.
But I was never so much a dreamer, as a man of action, and the necessity of active service forced me to cast aside such thoughts almost instantly.

There was work, and danger, ahead, and I welcomed both eagerly.

This was the way to forget.

Aye! and the way to serve.
I felt the revolver in my pocket, took it out and made sure it was in readiness; then advanced cautiously toward the house.